Atty. Baligod claims 50 more solons involved in PDAF scam

Atty. Levito Baligod alleged that, aside from the lawmakers who have been charged over the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, some 50 more have yet to be identified and charged, GMA News TV's “Balitanghali” reported on Saturday.



According to Baligod, several of these 50 lawmakers were involved with alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles' non-government organizations.

“If you want to cover the period of 2007 to 2009, there should be a lot more na puwedeng maimbestigahan,” he explained. “You would also note the affidavit of Mrs. Napoles na kung saan ay mahigit 100 congressmen and about 14 senators ang ka-transaksyon ni Ginang Napoles.

“Eh, ang nakasuhan pa lamang po ng DOJ sa first, second, and third batches ay 25 pa lamang.”

Baligod on Wednesday filed malversation cases against 20 former and incumbent lawmakers before the Office of Ombudsman over the PDAF scam.

Among the lawmakers named in the new complaint were Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., former Sen. Edgardo Angara, former House Speaker Prospero Nograles, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director Joel Villanueva, Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., and YACAP party-list Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez.

COA involvement

Meanwhile, Baligod also alleged that Commission on Audit employees involved in the PDAF scam had been paid off with cars and trips abroad.

COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza admitted that seven auditors were been investigated over their involvement in the scam, with three of these auditors now facing administrative cases.

“Hindi natin inaalis yung posibilidad na maari na paminsan-minsan, siguro, may ilang sinasabi natin na natutukso o nasasama sa hindi tamang gawain.

Still, Mendoza said the COA was open to any investigation. “Makaka asa ang publiko na hindi nating pagtatakpan o hindi natin isasa isang tabi ang akusasyon na ito,” she said.

However, both Mendoza and Baligod concluded, given that Baligod's complaint covered the years 2007 to 2009, COA had no jurisdiction over former commission employees who were involved in the scam.

“COA can only file administrative charges against present employees,” Baligod explained. “Wala po silang jurisdiction sa mga nag-retire na, halimbawa.

“Kaya po tayo nagsampa ng kriminal na reklamo sa Ombudsman. Para po kahit po nag-retire na COA officials na ito ay puwede pa pong habulin.” — Andrei Medina/DVM, GMA News